National Development

With the arrival of British governance in 1763 in what was to become Canada, the British Royal Engineers assumed great responsibility for the construction of defensive works as well as the development of the North American colonies. Early activities included the construction of forts, roads and bridges, and inland canals and waterways. Landmarks such as the Halifax Citadel and Fort Henry at Kingston still stand today and attest to the strength of their defensive works.

The Department of National Defence assumed the responsibility for the Canadian portion of the Second World War-era Alaska Highway from the United States in April 1946. Among these new responsibilities was 1221 miles of the former Alaska Highway, 200 miles of access roads to seven landing fields, and 120 miles of the Canadian portion of the summer road to the port of Haines, Alaska.

The year 1929 ushered in the start of a decade-long world-wide economic depression that became known as the "Dirty Thirties'. Large-scale unemployment and a disastrous drought on the Canadian prairies created particularly severe hardship in the nation. The Federal Government, recognizing that the problem was beyond local control, initiated the Unemployment Relief Program in 1932. In 1934 the administration, management, construction, and erection of large projects that had been handled by Department of Public Works was transferred to the Department of National Defence.

In 1953 the Canadian Army introduced a plan to provide a military career opportunity for young men who were between 16 - 17 years old. This “Soldier Apprentice Program” was intended to address the Army’s personnel challenges in the post-war era and ensure that there would be a sound base of talented soldiers and leaders at the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer level. The two-year program provided trades training concurrent with upgrading the soldier’s academic qualifications.